SFC Alwyn C. Cashe
Since being part of the 2010 Medal of Honor Convention, I have read and published scores of narratives for valor medals. While the actions of these men are all truly incredible, the actions of Sergeant First Class Alwyn C. Cashe in Iraq on Oct. 17, 2005 are astonishing. Especially considering he was only awarded the Silver Star.
Cashe occupied the gunner’s turret of a Bradley fighting vehicle when it was hit by an IED. Cashe managed to escape the vehicle, but the vehicle’s fuel cell had ruptured and ignited, setting fire to the men stuck inside. Cashe was covered in fuel, and insurgent small-arms fire was targeting the Bradley. Cashe rescued the driver, who was on fire, and opened the hatch to rescue the burning soldiers still inside. His uniform caught fire, but he continued his rescue efforts – even running into the inferno to pull out the medic.
Of those wounded in the attack, Cashe’s burns were the most severe. He succumbed to his wounds on Nov. 8, 2005. I run into burning buildings for a living as a fireman. But I cannot imagine running into a burning vehicle while soaked in fuel and on fire myself to rescue multiple victims. This man did, he died doing so, and was only awarded the military’s third-highest medal for valor. Lyndon Johnson got a Silver Star for just riding on an airplane.
From the narrative to accompany the award:
Sergeant First Class Alwyn C. Cashe, United States Army, distinguished himself by exceptional gallantry in action in the face of violence while serving as the platoon 1h sergeant of 151 Platoon, Alpha Company (Hard rock). 151 Battalion, 15 Infantry Regiment, based at FOB Mackenzie, Salah a Din Province, Iraq.
On 17 October 2005 , SFC Alwyn Cashe’s heroic actions saved the lives of six of his fellow Soldiers. At approximately 1915 hrs, his platoon departed the forward operating base along Route Jaime to conduct a route clearance operation along a supply route that ran through the town of Duliaya; a town adjacent to the FOB.
After traveling about 4-5 kilometers, the lead Bradley fighting vehicle, of which SFC Cashe was in the gunner’s hatch, struck a vehicle detonated IED emplaced across the route at grid MC 25377243. The blast ignited the fuel cell causing fuel to spew throughout the vehicle igniting a fire and causing the vehicle to roll to a stop. Also, from the forward left flank of the blast site, the platoon received enemy small-arms fire.
Soaked with fuel himself, SFC Cashe managed to dismount from the vehicle and assist the driver, SPC Howe, whose uniform was on fire. SFC Cashe extinguished the flames on SPC Howe.
Six soldiers and an interpreter were in the troop compartment of the burning vehicle. Flames had engulfed the vehicle and were darting from the weapons ports. One of the soldiers in the back of the vehicle attempted to open the hatch door in an attempt to help the soldiers escape. The flames intensified and everyone inside was aflame. Without regard for his personal safety, SFC Cashe rushed to the back of the vehicle, managed to help open the door and began to pull the soldiers out, one at a time. In doing this, the flames totally gripped his fueled soaked uniform causing severe, painful burns. Despite this pain, he bravely continued to pull his troops out of the vehicle and feverishly worked to put their flames out. As the chaos continued, SFC Cashe noticed that the platoon medic was still inside. He rushed back to the vehicle, reached through the flames and pulled out the medic. All this despite being on fire himself.
Within moments, a trail vehicle arrived and assisted with the CASEVAC. Although severely burned, SFC Cashe bravely continued to take control of the situation as besthe could. Shortly thereafter, the company first sergeant, 1SG Chris Mackenzie, accompanied by medics and other soldiers from the company arrived and began to evacuate the severely burned soldiers, the worst of which was SFC Cashe. The FOB helipad served as the LZ/PZ for the air evacuation. Badly burned, all six soldiers were alive when they were air evacuated. The interpreter did not survive the blast and was immediately transported to the battalion morgue.
Throughout the nightmarish ordeal, ten soldiers were injured. Six of the ten were treated at the Balad Hospital. Five of those six, including SFC Cashe were later evacuated through Landstuhl to the burn center in San Antonio, Texas. Sadly, over the next few weeks, four of the six died of wounds.
Despite being the most severely injured with 2nd and 3rd degree burns over 72% of his body, SFC Alwyn Cashe endured while his soldiers were alive. He suffered through painful surgeries, infections, organ failure and loss of body parts as he continued to be the consummate Platoon Sergeant to his Soldiers. SFC Alwyn Cashe died of his wounds on 8 November 2005. He was the last of those so severely injured that terrible night to die.
SFC Cashe’s selfless and gallant actions allowed the loved ones of these brave soldiers to spend precious time by their sides before each succumbed to their dreadful injuries.
Although he is no longer with us, SFC Alwyn C. Cashe is the type of hero that historians will write about.
His actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military heroism and reflect greatly upon himself and the US Army.
More Blackfive reading on SFC Cashe here, here, and here.
Not to take away from the honor and tradition of our military decorations, but sometimes cloth and metal don’t quite seem sufficient to recognize people like Sergeant First Class Alwyn C. Cashe. I expect that his medal will be upgraded. If not, it is time to overhaul the awards process.
In: Military · Tagged with: Iraq, Medal of Honor, Silver Star, US Army, War on Terror
Col. Millett’s Silver Star
The Washington Post has more on Col. Lewis Millett, the recently departed Medal of Honor recipient:
As an antitank gunner in Tunisia, he earned the Silver Star after he jumped into a burning ammunition-filled halftrack, drove it away from allied soldiers and leapt to safety just before the vehicle exploded. Not long after, he shot down a German Messerschmitt Me-109 fighter that was strafing Allied troops. Col. Millett, who was firing from machine guns mounted on a halftrack, hit the pilot through the windshield.
Millett fought in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.
Reflecting on his career, Col. Millett once told an interviewer: “I believe in freedom, I believe deeply in it. I’ve fought in three wars, and volunteered for all of them, because I believed as a free man, that it was my duty to help those under the attack of tyranny. Just as simple as that.”
In: Military History · Tagged with: Col. Lewis L. "Red" Millett, Silver Star, World War II
Medal of Honor Awarded to Two E/27th Commanders within 3 Months
27th Infantry Regiment insignia "Fear No Difficulties"
Military History magazine conducted a great interview in 2002 with the late Medal of Honor recipient Col. Lewis Millett.
Among many other new things I learned about Col. Millett, I read that the commander whom Millett replaced, Capt. Reginald B. Desiderio, was also awarded the Medal of Honor (posthumously) for his actions. Only three months after Desiderio’s actions, Millett’s bayonet charge would earn him the medal as well.
Desiderio also fought in Southern France and Germany during World War II, earning a Silver Star, Purple Heart, and four Bronze Stars for courage.
In: Military History · Tagged with: "Wolfhounds", 27th Infantry Regiment, Bronze Star, Col. Lewis L. "Red" Millett, Korean War, Lewis Millett, Medal of Honor, Reginald B. Desiderio, Reginald Desiderio, Silver Star, US Army, World War II
Someone who earned his (ten) Silver Stars
Col. David Hackworth being interviewed on the front line in Vietnam by Gen. S.L.A. Marshall following the Battle of Dak To in 1967.
While LBJ may or may not deserve his Silver Star, the late Colonel David Hackworth – veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam – definitely earned his. All ten of them.
In addition to Col. Hackworth’s ten Silver Stars, he was also awarded two Distinguished Service Crosses, eight Bronze Stars, eight Purple Hearts, and many others totaling 91 decorations. Citations of his Silver Stars and DSC’s are available from MilitaryTimes.com.
Hackworth’s service to this nation began at the early age of 14, where he joined the Merchant Marine. At 15, he joined the Army. Much more awesomeness entails, and his bio and eulogy are definitely worth reading.
I do not agree with all of Hackworth’s views, but his opinions do not take away from the fact that he was one hardcore soldier, and apparently cared deeply for those whom Washington sends to war.
David Hackworth receives the Silver Star from Gen. Bradley for heroism under enemy fire in Korea on Feb. 6, 1951.
In: Military History · Tagged with: Col. David H. Hackworth, David Hackworth, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star
“Raider” Johnson, President and war hero?
LBJ swears in aboard Air Force One in Dallas, TX following the assasination of John F. Kennedy on 22 November, 1963. Visible on Johnson's left lapel is the Silver Star, which he wore prominently throughout his career as a politician.
Not exactly.
Did you know that Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th President of the United States, was a recipient of the Silver Star?
“The most you can say about Lyndon Johnson and his Silver Star, is that surely one of the most undeserved Silver Stars in history because if you accept everything that he said, he would still in action for no more than 13 minutes and only as an observer,” said JBJ’s biographer Robert Caro in an interview on CNN. “Men who flew many missions, brave men, never got a Silver Star.”
If LBJ’s medal is fraudulent – and by all credible accounts it appears to be – this is a disgrace to the men who earned the Silver Star, and those who are deserving of the medal, but were not awarded.
Lt CDR Lydon B. Johnson, USNR, and Lt CDR Francis R. Stevens, USAAF, in Australia, 1942.
Johnson’s citation reads:
“For gallantry in action in the vicinity of Port Moresby and Salamaua, New Guinea on June 9, 1942. While on a mission of obtaining information in the Southwest Pacific area, Lieutenant Commander Johnson, in order to obtain personal knowledge of combat conditions, volunteered as an observer on a hazardous aerial combat mission over hostile positions in New Guinea. As our planes neared the target area they were intercepted by eight hostile fighters. When, at this time, the plane in which Lieutenant Commander Johnson was an observer, developed mechanical trouble and was forced to turn back alone, presenting a favorable target to the enemy fighters, he evidenced marked coolness in spite of the hazards involved. His gallant action enabled him to obtain and return with valuable information.”
Johnson was merely an observer on the flight, and no one else on the plane was awarded a medal.
“I would say it’s a tissue of exaggerations,” added Caro. “He said that he flew on many missions, not one mission. He said that the crewmen — the other members of the Air Force group, were so admiring of him they called him ‘Raider’ Johnson — neither of these things are true.”
In: Military History, Politics · Tagged with: LBJ, Lyndon B. Johnson, Silver Star, World War II
